by
Jeff Parzych
Many times games like the one played on Wednesday evening between Syracuse and Binghamton fail to live up to expectations. Fortunately for the 6,184 fans in attendance, the largest home crowd for the Crunch this season, last night's contest wasn't one of them.
Fred Brathwaite recorded 36 saves and his Binghamton counterpart Ray Emery registered 27 as the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators skated to a rare 0-0 tie.
Brathwaite was playing the first game of a three-game conditioning assignment and his first American League game since he appeared in two games for the now defunct Saint John Flames back in 1999-00. The game was also the first action Brathwaite has seen since back on since January 29 against the Nashville Predators.
Despite the inactivity Brathwaite was sharp all night long. He gave the Crunch defense a big assist when discussing his first performance in over two weeks.
"The way these guys played so very well defensively. They took away the second shot for me and also let me see the first shot," stated Brathwaite. "Again, I felt good in there but they made my job a lot easier."
For Brathwaite playing well over this stretch is important on many levels.
"You come down here and you have been up all season and you just want to show that you are good enough to be up and you are not just there to sit on the bench," stated Braithwaite. "Hopefully I proved to myself and the organization that I can still play."
Also on a conditioning assignment for this one was long-time NHL enforcer Rob Ray. Originally Ray wasn't supposed to make the trip to Syracuse for Wednesday's game, but plans changed and Ray, sixth all-time in penalty minutes in NHL history, laced them up.
The change in Ray's itinerary was music to Crunch enforcer Brandon Sugden's ears. Upon learning that Ray had been signed by Ottawa, Sugden was hopeful Ray would play in Wednesday's game. He heard the news upon arriving for the game and immediately looked for the nearest phone.
"A guy outside the arena told me that Ray was playing and I had a permanent smile on my face," recounted Sugden. "I made sure I called my dad and I told him he was playing and he got all excited."
The fact that Ray was playing was one thing. Getting him to dance in his first game in nine months was another. The first time they lined up together Sugden, respectful of his elders, politely invited Ray to a bout.
"I asked him do you want to put on a show," said Sugden. "He said listen kid I haven't skated in nine months. Give me a few shifts."
After the drop of the puck Sugden did his best to goad Ray into accepting his offer. "I sort of stuck him a little bit and try to egg him on," said Sugden. "He got angry and that was what I was trying to make him."
Once the gloves dropped Sugden gained control immediately utilizing his height and reach advantage. "I remember from watching him fight he likes to get out his shirt and I wasn't going to let that happen," stated Sugden. "I just grabbed him and started throwing and I realized I could reach him when I threw."
Both players exchanged blows with Sugden clearly winning a decision. One must give Ray credit. He understands what Sugden's job is out there and he wasn't about to back down despite the long layoff.
"In the AHL you fight everybody to create a name for yourself and you go from there," stated Ray. "If it wasn't for this league I wouldn't be where I am today."
Props to Sugden also. It was very evident that Ray was clearly fatigued by the end of the bout and Sugden respected Ray giving him the opportunity and walked away instead of taking advantage of the tired veteran.
"I could feel that he was fatigued," said Sugden. "The refs came in and asked if we were done and I sort of looked at him and he said we're done. It is just mutual respect between guys."
Despite feeling the effects of his first game action in so long, Ray still could find humor in the situation.
"Muck (Ottawa GM John Muckler) told me I didn't have to fight the first night so I guess he owes me one."
Crunch Ice Pack:
Date: February 18, 2004
Where:Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter
Opponent:Binghamton Senators
Attendance:6,184
Boxscore:
First Period:-Scoring-No Scoring. Penalties-Bancroft, Bin (double minor, spearing), 12:22; MacLean, Syr (slashing), 12:22; McDonell, Syr (picking up puck), 12:22; Ray, Bin (fighting), 12:35; Sugden, Bin (fighting), 12:35; Mihaly, Bin (roughing), 12:58; Cull, Syr (roughing), 12:58; Stephens, Bin (double minor)(hooking, roughing), 14:25; Reich, Syr (roughing), 14:25.
Second Period:-Scoring-No Scoring. Penalties-Motzko, Syr (holding), 3:08; Smrek, Bin (boarding), 10:25; Scoville, Syr (high-stick), 15:30.
Third Period:-Scoring-No Scoring. Penalties- Ray, Bin (interference), 2:26.
Overtime:Scoring-No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties.
Shots on Goal-Binghamton, 13-7-12-4--36; Syracuse, 9-11-6-1--27.
Power Play Opps-Binghamton, 0-4; Syracuse, 0-3.
Goalies-Binghamton, Emery (17-14-5), 27 shots-36 saves; Syracuse, Brathwaite (0-0-1), 27 shots-27 saves.
Referee-Jeff Smith (49); Linesmen-John Everett (82), Tim Kotyra(53).
Three Stars:
1. Fred Brathwaite: Finished the night with 36 saves in his first game action in over two weeks.
2. Ray Emery: Even though he was tested less, Razor was just as sharp as finished with 27 saves on the evening.
3. Brandon Sugden: In the dressing room after the game Sugden jokingly began the interview by asking "Rob who?" A dream come true kind of night for Sugden.
Lineups:
Senators:Goal: Ray Emery, Billy Thompson. Defense:Julien Vauclair, Steve Bancroft, Andy Hedlund, Jan Platil, Christoph Schubert, Peter Smrek, Ian Manzano. Forwards: Serge Payer, Brad Tapper, Rob Ray, Alexandre Giroux, Jody Hull, Denis Hamel, David Hymovitz, Brian McGrattan, Charlie Stephens, Greg Watson, Arpad Mihaly, Mike Brown, Domenic Forget, Nathan Gillies
Crunch:Goal:Fred Brathwaite, Karl Goehring. Defense: Darrel Scoville, Paul Traynor, Brendan Buckley, Zenith Komarniski, Trent Cull, Derrick Walser Forwards:Mark Hartigan, Ben Knopp, Joe Motzko, Donald MacLean, Jeremy Reich, Tim Jackman, Shawn Limpright, Brad Moran, Tyler Sloan, Brandon Sugden, Mike Pandolfo, Kent McDonell, Scott Cameron.
Pre-game Skate:
Syracuse scratched defenseman Paul Traynor (hamstring), center Scott Cameron (healthy), and Nate Kiser (healthy). Binghamton sat out defenseman Jan Platil (suspension), Brad Tapper (concussion), Jody Hull (abdominal surgery) and Brian McGrattan (suspension).
Crunch One-Timers:
According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch, Pascal Leclaire is slated to play at least one, possibly two games for the Jackets on their west coast swing. That same article also reported that the Crunch's newest member, Fred Brathwaite, will start three straight games for the Crunch before heading back to Columbus on Sunday…Brad Moran returned to the Crunch lineup on Wednesday after missing the last three games with a injured foot.
Domi Fined For Incident With Shelley:
Last Thursday's stick-signing incident between Tie Domi and Jody Shelley has resulted in fines for both Domi and his team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reports from TSN.ca state that Domi was fined $1,000 and the Leafs $5,000 for Domi's little attempt at showmanship at the expense of the former Syracuse enforcer.
It all occurred last Thursday during Toronto's 4-1 win over the Jackets. After failing to accept Shelly's offer to settle things on the ice, Domi grabbed a pen on the Leafs bench, signed a stick and then threw it into the Columbus bench.
Blue Jacket general manager Doug MacLean was not amused. "I think it shows disrespect to Jody Shelley, who is a legitimate NHL tough guy," MacLean told TSN. "I think it showed disrespect to our hockey team and I think it showed disrespect to the game."
MacLean then added "this is the NHL, not the WWF." Columbus and Toronto are not scheduled to meet again this season so any remaining bad blood will have to carry over to next season.
Ling Has an Eventful Monday
David Ling didn't come close to finding the dreaded rubber chicken in his locker during his brief stay with the Crunch. 13 points, including 5 goals, in eight games are good enough to ward that off.
In Columbus, however, that is a different story. That was until Monday evening. Late in the third period of the Jackets blood bath against Nashville, Ling found the back of the net for his first goal since way back on March 15.
Ling's tally was just an after thought for most fans, especially after witnessing what occurred in a span of four seconds in the first period between Ling and his new linemates for that evening, Jody Shelley and Tyler Wright.
Wright fought Jordin Tootoo, a continuation of the biting incident that occurred earlier in the season, at 3:17. Shelley followed that up with a bout against Jim McKenzie at 3:20 and then Ling danced with Jeremy Stevenson at 3:21. In that bout Ling received a gash on his cheek that needed 37 stitches to close the wound.
That lines physical play set the tone for the game and enabled the Jackets to walk out of Nationwide Arena with a 4-2 win under their belt.
On Deck:
Syracuse is off until Friday when they head down I-81 for a North Division battle against long-time rival, the Rochester Americans. The Amerks downed the San Antonio Rampage 5-3 on Wednesday night and they now find themselves in forth place in the North Division, seven points behind the Crunch. Game time at Blue Cross Arena is set for 7:30 P.M.